Still fine-tuning their roster in advance of training camp, the New Orleans Saints have reached a contract agreement with center Bubba Miller, an unrestricted free agent who spent all his previous NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

A six-year veteran, Miller started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2000 after having been a career backup to that point, but then suffered a broken right ankle in the 2001 preseason. He was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 1 of last year and was sidelined for the entire campaign as untested Hank Fraley assumed the position.

The injury came as Miller was beginning to establish himself as a solid performer.

Philadelphia demonstrated little interest in re-signing Miller this spring and he generated only modest action in the open market. He signed a one-year contract for the veteran minimum base salary of $650,000 but, because of a new rule this year, will count just $450,000 against the Saints' 2002 salary cap.

Miller, 29, is not fully recovered yet from the broken ankle but should be ready in time for training camp. The former University of Tennessee standout might challenge Jerry Fontenot for the starting job at center, but it is more likely he will be the backup.

The addition of Miller probably means the Saints will use second-round draft choice LeCharles Bentley, who can play center and guard, at the latter position. Bentley was a standout at a minicamp last month and there is a chance he will fill the vacancy at right guard created when former starter Chris Naeole departed in free agency.

For his career, Miller has appeared in 58 games and started 23 of them. He joined the Eagles as an undrafted college free agent in 1996.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.